FE REPORT
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) opined that the memorandums of understanding (MoUs), recently signed with India, are 'anti-Bangladesh'. BNP would announce programmes against (implementation of) the MoUs and accords.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said these in a press briefing at the party chairperson's Gulshan office in the capital on Tuesday.
Bangladesh and India signed 10 MoUs, including seven new and three renewed, in presence of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.
Mirza Fakhrul said the BNP Standing Committee, in its meeting on June 24, expressed fear that the country's independence and sovereignty might be jeopardised following signing of the MoUs with India.
"BNP has rejected the accords and MoUs, as those are anti-Bangladesh. We want to say very clearly that BNP has been established for safeguarding the country's sovereignty. BNP will take all possible initiatives for protecting the country's independence."
BNP will hold a press conference on the issue on June 28, where the party will announce programmes against the accords and MoUs.
Responding to a query, he said their movement is not against India, but against the present government.
"The government has failed completely to realise right shares from India. The government signs accord with India without getting the country's due share of waters of the common rivers. We need the Teesta River water. The government wants to move with the Teesta project, because if there is a project, there will be money and that money is their main target."
Quoting newspaper reports, the BNP secretary general said Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee sent messages to the Indian central government that there would be no Teesta River water sharing deal with Bangladesh by excluding her state.
He blamed the government for not raising the issue to the United Nations (UN) for getting just share of waters of the common rivers from India.
Mirza Fakhrul opined that connectivity with the neighbouring country must ensure the interests of Bangladesh. "What is the country's profit in giving India corridor through Bangladesh?"
"The government is not saying anything against the regular killings of Bangladeshi people by BSF on the India-Bangladesh border. It is only signing accords and MoUs, and these issues are not in the accords and MoUs."
He continued that BNP would soon launch movement for immediate release of detained Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. BNP did not retreat from its ongoing anti-government movement, which is continuing. The party is likely to announce the programmes today (Wednesday).
"We've decided to launch movement for immediate and unconditional release of Khaleda Zia. We'll take necessary programmes for her release."
BNP's Standing Committee meeting on June 24, presided over by Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, also expressed concerns over the health condition of Khaleda Zia.
"She is detained only for political vengeance, which is completely illegal and unconstitutional."
About Khaleda's latest health condition, he said her condition is now stable after installing pacemaker. She was shifted to a cabin from CCU at Evercare Hospital in the city.
The BNP secretary general claimed that Khaleda Zia is being deprived of advanced medical treatment abroad due to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
"I'm telling you from my own experience that all arrangements were completed for sending her abroad for treatment. Her family members applied to the government for getting permission. Finally, when the application went to the Prime Minister, she rejected it."
"Not only that, we also sent letters to different missions. They tried repeatedly. But she did not listen."
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com